INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1134, 19 December 1873, Page 2

INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Mr D. M. Luckie M.HE, in responding to the " Press," at a public dinner at Auckland, the other day, said : —" Newspaper men, while having a true sense of their duty and responsibility, should have three'characteristics. The three li's of course, were necessary, but he alluded to the three F's—fact, fairness, and fearlessness." The Wellington Independent suggests that steps be taken to hold a second Colonial Exhibition at Wellington in 1875. , Amongst the items of news contained in a late Wellington Independent is an account of the death of a well-known don; named- "Bully." It is stated that this " sweet beast"" knew all the older members of Parliament, but was puzzled with the new ones of last session, and that he was a constant attendant at Parliament House during the session. The cause of death was poison—whether accidentally taken or not seems to be a mystery. The dog was well known throughout Otago, and in fact many other parts of New Zealand. It belonged to Mr E. C.Haughton, and was brought by him from Melbourne about 1863, and used to follow that gentleman wherever he travelled.

This paragraph is no joke. The Tuapeka Times says a Chinese named Macpherson lately tendered for a contract. The parties empowered to accept or reject tenders (they reside at Tokomairiro) expressed surprise that any Chinese should be a Macpherson, and in reply, the Celestial, in English, split up into very vulgar fractions, exclaimed " It's no (adjective) use for any one to tender in this (adjective) country unless he is a Scotchman," It is said that Fox, the well-known prospector, has struck a lead of black sand at the Haast that is expected to turn out well. . It is situated in a terrace about one mile from Ship Creek, 200 yards back from the beach, and 100 feet high. r ihe diggers in the Haast district are doing tolerably well, some of them having good claims, and most of the others on gold. The country is being gradually opened up. The Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says : The Star of the South has taken to Fiji the new Bank Manager, Mr Horton, late County Treasurer of Westland, .and nearly £14,000 in coin. She has also taken the Bank notes, so that this establishment is now fairly started. The notes are from £2O to ss, and. have at the back an intimation, in Fijian, that they are good for their respective values in

bard cash. Tho advent of this money will put new confidence into peopl6 there, and give a new impulse to progress.

Mr Vincent Pyke has issued a prospectus of a new weekly paper to be edited and published by himself in Uuuedin. It will be called the Suthern Mercury, and tho first number will contain the first chapters of a new story by the editor, who has just issued the final number of Wild Will Euderby.

The manager of tho Grey Coal Company has presented an elaborate and encouraging report to the directors, wherein he states that he expects shortly to open up a block that will ■yield 300 tons a day for some years. From an official statement just issued there has been an astonishing increase in the number and value of telegrams despatched in the colony during the last three months. The increase on the previous quarter is no less than 29,955 telegrams, and £1159 cash. There has been an increase of Government telegrams also amounting to a value of <£9Bo in addition.

The Hokitika Evening Star says :-- The Secretary of the Exhibition Committee has received a telegram from Dr Haast, informing: him that the height required for the skeletons of the moas that are being sent to the Exhibition will be ten feet. Also, that Mr Fuller, the celebrated taxidermist, will leave Lyttelton for Hokitika on the 18th inst., to assist in putting them together, and and fixing many exhibits that require great skill and care.

Cobden, after a good few years of listlessness without showing a single sign of improvement, is now making some steps towards redeeming at least its architectural reputation. Several new houses, intended either as private dwellings, stores, or hotels, have, within the past few weeks, been erected in the township, and in addition to these, it has surpassed its southern neighbor in having erected a large aviary, wherein innumerable birds are enabled to do their skippings and chirpings among the growing trees. An information was sworn on the 11th instant, by E. Patten, Collector of Customs ; Hokitika, against S. A. Meyerstein, ironmonger, charging him with being concerned in unshipping from the brigantine Circe, one package described as hardware, which on examination was found to contain three silver watches, contrary to section 59 of " The Customs Regulations Act, 1858," whereby he forfeits the sum of £IBO, being treble the value of the goods, and for that sum the Commissioner of Customs elects to sue.